Stockholders' Equity - Reconciliation of Stockholders' Equity to Noncontrolling Interests (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				$ 442,937	[1]	$ 370,638
Net income		$ 37,389	$ 44,657	51,492		79,381
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interest		1,287	1,084	890		747
Net income				52,382		80,128
Dividends on common stock				(6,128)		(6,119)
Common stock purchased for treasury				(10,240)		(1,272)
Employee benefit plans				6,046		5,916
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	[2]	3,340	9,115	(7,864)		18,820
Other changes to AOCI, net of tax				(715)		327
Other, net				(34)		56
Ending Balance		478,064	468,494	478,064		468,494
Non-Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				13,806		13,283
Net income attributable to non-redeemable noncontrolling interest				890		747
Ending Balance		14,696	14,030	14,696		14,030
ASU 2018-02
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adoption of ASU 2018-02		1,600		1,680	[3]
Total Viad Equity
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				429,131		357,355
Net income				51,492		79,381
Dividends on common stock				(6,128)		(6,119)
Common stock purchased for treasury				(10,240)		(1,272)
Employee benefit plans				6,046		5,916
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax				(7,864)		18,820
Other changes to AOCI, net of tax				(715)		327
Other, net				(34)		56
Ending Balance		$ 463,368	$ 454,464	463,368		$ 454,464
Total Viad Equity | ASU 2018-02
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Adoption of ASU 2018-02	[3]			$ 1,680

[1] We determined that the cumulative effect of initially applying Topic 606 as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings was not material, and therefore we made no adjustment.

[2] The tax effect on other comprehensive income (loss) is not significant.

[3] Upon the adoption of ASU 2018-02, we recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment from AOCI to beginning retained earnings.